Note: More details in the stories by Göteborg Energi and Mölndal Energi in Swedish
On March 31, Effekthandel Väst ended its 4th season in Göteborg and Mölndal. Since last winter, the number of registered Flexibility Service Providers (FSPs) has now increased almost to 30. This winter is also the first time that private individuals have been able to support the local electricity grid with their batteries and electric car charging. An important addition to meet the power challenges of grid companies.
Effekthandel Väst is a flexibility market where companies and aggregators in Mölndal Energi’s and Göteborg Energi’s electricity grids can be paid to reduce their use or increase their production of electricity during certain critical hours. In this way, they help relieve the electricity grid when the load is at its highest.
«Power trading is one of our most important tools for counter acting capacity shortages in the local electricity grid. It is now the fourth year that Effekthandel Väst is up and running and this year I think you can talk about a breakthrough year even though the flexibility market is still developing,» says Therese Caesar, responsible for flexibility at Göteborg Energi Nät AB.
«We are extremely grateful to all the actors who participate, they make a very important contribution to Mölndal. We have an impact challenge that is expected to increase every year. The fact that we have been able to increase the number of operators to double gives us good security for the coming winters. By working smartly with the power we have, we enable Mölndal to continue to grow,» says Fredrik Lundmark, CEO of Mölndal Energi Nät.
Among the new participants is Volvo Cars, where private individuals have been able to participate with their electric car charging (read more here), which is controlled down when needed. It is still a pilot project, but with good opportunities to grow. In addition to electric car owners, around 500 battery owners have also supported the electricity grid via CheckWatt.
«It is incredibly gratifying that so many companies in Gothenburg now seriously see the benefits of the power store and want to be involved. Increased communication efforts and a large number of personal contacts with future suppliers to find the right way to participate based on the activities in question have yielded results. It is also very fun that we have several aggregators participating. Through these, private individuals in Gothenburg can also be involved and contribute,» says Therese Caesar.
Several players have also combined participation in Effekthandel Väst with Svenska kraftnät’s support service market.
«It is very gratifying that we have such a breadth of participants, ranging from industries and larger properties to private individuals. It gives us flexibility, plus it’s gratifying that we who live and work here together can contribute to our Mölndal,» says Fredrik Lundmark.
Something that is also new for the season is that the parent company Mölndal Energi has taken a more active role and helped to aggregate for customers such as Wallenstam and Husvärden, among others. Despite a mild winter, all operators that placed sell orders in the market or responded to contract request have been called off at some point during the winter.
» Although the need has been less this winter, we see a continued power challenge going forward. That’s why it’s important that we keep the marketplace going and engage all actors,» says Fredrik Lundmark.
«It is important that we can land correctly in a market design where it is possible to combine participation in several markets. It gives us very valuable insights to work on,» says Therese Caesar.
About Effekthandel Väst:
Effekthandel Väst is a local flexibility market on the NODES marketplace where Mölndal Energi Nät and Göteborg Energi Nät are buyers. In concrete terms, power trading means that customers temporarily reduce their electricity use or increase their production of electricity or use energy storage to reduce the load on the electricity grid.
Trading power is a way to free up capacity in the local electricity grid when the need is greatest during the cold season.
